The holidays are over now and it’s almost time to start taking down those decorations and saving them for next year. Taking some time to properly store your LED Christmas lights and other decorations this year can save you a giant headache next year. Here are some tips and tricks that we’ve found over the years to help you store your decorations. Continue reading How to Store LED Christmas Lights

“I love the light for it shows me the way. Yet, I endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.” —Og Mandino

Winter solstice marks the day with the shortest hours of light and the longest hours of darkness, and officially launches the season of winter. Many of us have already noticed the oppressive feeling of leaving for and returning from work without seeing the sun. Though winter is only just beginning, we’re already yearning for more daylight. There’s even a mood condition that affects some people in the winter, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), linked to the shortened hours of daylight. Yet this period of waiting for the light is nothing new. In many ancient cultures, the shortest day in winter was a day to gather and celebrate. It meant that the community could now begin watching for the increase of light. Continue reading Winter SolsticeTime to Push Back the Darkness

The American tradition of decorating evergreen trees, homes, and landscapes, with brightly lit Christmas lights is not as old as many people think. Most of us probably assume that Americans have always used Christmas lights, in one form or another, but this isn’t exactly true. As it turns out, this American tradition has only been around for about 60 years, but the development of the tradition has a story and history that began centuries ago. Continue reading The History and Meaning of Christmas Lights in America

“Diwali,” “Hanukkah,” “Pasko,” “Kwanzaa,” “Santa Lucia,” “Loi Krathong.” What do all of these unusual words have in common? They are Festivals of Light from cultures around the world—each one using light to celebrate. This is the perfect time of year for children of all ages to learn how different cultures celebrate the Festival of Lights. Continue reading Enlighten Students on the Festival of Lights

You remember learning about the color spectrum years ago in Physical Science 101? Do you also have a dim memory of some guy named “Kelvin”? Before you purchase or add to your Christmas light collection this season, you may want to refresh what you learned about color spectrum, Kelvin, and temperature. If you don’t, you may end up with white lights that are different shades of white and don’t match.

Picture Perfect Holiday Lights?

The holiday season is quickly approaching. You’re already picturing the tall pine tree strung with twinkling lights and adorned with your family’s heirloom ornaments. You can see the stacks of presents overtaking the floor space and can nearly smell the Christmas cookies in the oven—ah, the magic of season! Continue reading Christmas Lights from China: the Ethics of Illumination

When you’re looking to design your holiday displays, one of the best ways to get inspired, is to see what bright ideas other people come up with. With that in mind, here are ten photos from a trip to Seattle’s Candy Cane Lane (along with ideas), that we hope will get your creative juices flowing: Continue reading Photo Essay: 10 Bright Ideas for Holiday Lights

In Seattle, it’s Candy Cane Lane. In Baltimore, it’s Miracle on 34th Street. In Georgia, it’s the village of Avondale Estates. Many cities have them – entire neighborhoods where every house gets on board with over-the-top displays that causes kids’ eyes to pop out of their heads with delight. Continue reading Best Neighborhood Holiday Light Displays